Car Theft

[securespark]

Does anyone know anyone who has had their 4 stolen?

Not a 4, but a resident near me had a car with keyless nicked and there was talk of "should have used a Faraday box".

Do they really work and if so, which would you buy?

 

[m4rmite]

A metal biscuit tin will work just as well, to prove if it works or not.

 

[STJ73]

I have a pouch that you put the key into and I tried it and it worked.

 

[securespark]

How did you establish the effectiveness of the pouch?

And can you post a link to it please?

 

[johnb80]

How did you establish the effectiveness of the pouch?

Easy to check pouch / tin, put the key in it and go to open the doors, if they unlock you device protection isnt working.

And can you post a link to it please?

Loads on Amazon and they will all work.

 

[jiiikoo]

Thankfully I live in an apartment building with a separate garage, so extenders etc dont work

 

[JonnyG]

As above, there's plenty on Amazon - just pick one/two with a lot of high ratings and few low ratings. Also read the reviews before choosing

 

[CooperS]

Look at defendersecurityproducts.co.uk I have the twin pack pouch which work succesfully.

 

[Grriff]

We keep our keys in Faraday pouches. However, this morning as an experiment I tried unlocking the car (with the key out of the pouch) when I was in the hall and the car was in the garage. The car unlocked. Would it have been possible for someone sitting in a car nearby to have picked that signal up and therefore clone a key, thus limiting the effectiveness of the pouch? What's the range of the key signal?
Our local police are advising the use of steering wheel locks. Remember them? Can anyone advise of a suitable make?

 

[Alb]

Disklok is the only one I would consider. It's what I use on the RS.

 

[JonEV]

Easy to check pouch / tin, put the key in it and go to open the doors, if they unlock you device protection isnt working.


Loads on Amazon and they will all work.

I don't know if this test will work.
Thieves use repeaters to relay the signal further the radius of the standard omitted signal.
If you could park the car right up against the front door (or nearest outside area to where the key usually sits) then test it I think that would work.

 

[Kithmo]

Disklok is the only one I would consider. It's what I use on the RS.

I've got a Disklock on my Morris Minor.

 

[CooperS]

Disklok is the only one I would consider. It's what I use on the RS.

Agree thats what I have used in the past. I have two of different sizes will check which one to use when the XPOWER arrives.

 

[Kithmo]

I don't know if this test will work.
Thieves use repeaters to relay the signal further the radius of the standard omitted signal.
If you could park the car right up against the front door (or nearest outside area to where the key usually sits) then test it I think that would work.

Why risk it for the sake of a few quid, just put the key in a Faraday pouch.
To test the pouch put the key in, and try to open the car with the pouch right next to the car.

 

[JonnyG]

The easy test is to put the key in the Faraday pouch and walk right up to your car with the Faraday pouch on you. The car button should then not unlock your car until you remove the key from the Faraday pouch.

EDIT: beaten to it by Kithmo above !!

If you watch all the Youtube keyless thefts one thief stands right next to your front door / window and the other right next to your car drivers door. So keep your keys in a Faraday pouch to stop the first thief picking up any signal.

Modern VAG car keys now stop emitting the signal after being stationary for around 5 minutes. Not sure if MG keys incorporate this feature ?

 

[Kithmo]

My old 2016 Prius keys could be deactivated with a combination of key presses on the fob, I deactivated the spare and a bit belt and braces, still put it in a faraday pouch. The everyday key was put in another pouch.
Don't forget to protect your spare key as well.

 

[JonnyG]

More info here :-

More car models get sleeping key fobs to combat keyless theft

Six new models rated as Superior in the latest batch of Consumer Security Ratings from Thatcham Research

www.whatcar.com

 

[CooperS]

Don't forget to protect your spare key as well.

Thats why I bought the pack of two. Although the EV6 goes to sleep, just wanted to make sure.

 

[Grriff]

My questions are concerned with the key once it is removed from the Faraday pouch.
If you press the key fob buttons how far does the signal reach? I can unlock the car from at least 10m, Could the signal be picked up by suitable equipment some distance away?
However, if you use the key 'passively' to open the boot, or car using the buttons on the handle, the range is only about 1.5m (as stated in the manual).
Does this mean I should avoid pressing the key fob buttons and only use the door buttons to lock and unlock the car?
Sleeping key fobs are only useful when the key is stored in the house.

 

[securespark]

Maybe this is is a stupid question and I haven't thought it through, but isn't the keyless function separate from the push button locking function?

Or do they both use the same tech?